Violent crimes carry the heaviest penalties in the criminal justice system. It is very important that you understand the laws and the process involved with violent crimes. You will want to obtain an experienced criminal defense attorney who handles violent crime cases.

Fraud is a form of theft crime which is carried out through deception, toward convincing another into surrendering money or other property. Fraud based offenses, not involving violence, are considered white collar crimes.

Federal offenses are distinguishable by the fact that the activity has been criminalized by the U.S. Congress, rather than the individual states. You may be investigated by the FBI, DEA, IRS, or any number of Federal agencies.

If you have never been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense because you were never charged (No Information), the charges against you were dropped (Nolle Prosequi), or they were dismissed by the State Attorney or a court, and you were never brought to trial for the reason you were arrested, and all other qualifications are met, you should apply for an immediate expunction.

If you are caught committing a crime and are convicted in a court of law, your sentence may include a considerable stretch in prison. So before you make up your mind to do something illicit, think long and hard about the time that you might have to spend languishing in jail.

Michelle Suskauer participated in a Palm Beach County Legal Education Program: “The Legal System” is an interactive field trip on the criminal justice system which is shown in all Palm Beach County middle and high schools. Gain insight on how the legal systems works in the case of a DUI arrest, through the perspectives of a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and a judge

Assault cases can include a simple assault, including verbal threats accompanied by threatening gestures, aggravated assaults (an assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill; or with the intent to commit a felony).

If you, your company or someone you do business with is under investigation or has been arrested for and/or charged with a white collar crime, reputations, careers and livelihoods could be at risk. The accused can be facing state and/or federal charges – not to mention the possible media scrutiny.

Penalties for specific drug offenses can increase if the offender’s crime involves the death or injury of another person, or if he or she is a habitual felony offender, or a violent career criminal. Penalties can also increase if an individual commits a drug offense near a school, a child care center, a public housing or assisted living facility, a public park or community center, a college or university, or a place of worship. Finally, many offenses can also be prosecuted as federal crimes, which often incur even more severe penalties